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By: CJ Rena Johnson
Product Reviews:
Steadymate Tie-Downs and Kwik Straps
CinchTite 2 Tie-Downs
CinchTite 4 Tie-Down with Cam-Tensioning
Device
Cinchtite 5 Tie-Downs with Spring-Loaded
Snap Hook
Cinchtite 6 Tie-Downs
Kwik Strap with
Cinchtite 2 Tie-Down |
I recently had the opportunity to start using
some of the Steadymate products by Kinedyne
including a couple sets of the Cinchtight Tie
Downs as well as a set of the Kwik Straps.
I hate this part
My least favorite part of off-roading is the
loading and unloading of my recreational
vehicles. I always stress about making sure they
are secure enough not to move during transport,
and it is usually a nuisance to get them to that
point. Then I still worry about them as I go
down the road. With some of the products I have
used previously, that worry was justified. They
either work themselves loose during travel or
are so twisted or tight when I get to the
trailhead that it takes two people to pull them
loose. I am no good at tying knots in plain
straps. I can never pull the straps with the
standard tension devices tight enough.
Therefore, the fastener devices are often the
main contributing factor to why this has always
been my least favorite part of off-roading.
Out of the Box
I have to say, the Cinchtite tie downs looked
quite impressive when I first pulled them out of
the box with their sturdy ratchet buckles and
extra thick webbing material.
Cinchtite 1, 2 & 3
The first Steadymate product I tried was the
Cinchtite 2. They have 1” nylon webbing and
sturdy ‘S’ hooks. The hooks were large enough to
hook securely over any part of my trailer or
vehicle with no problem. However, the ratchet
buckle was what really impressed me. They were
strong enough and large enough to easily pull
the webbing tight and keep the vehicle secure.
They were also smoother in operation and easier
to handle than any I had used before.
The Cinchtite 1 has all the same features as
the Cinchtite 2 except that it has a
cam-tensioning device instead of the ratchet
buckle found on the Cinchtite 2.
The Cinchtite 3 has the cam-tensioning device
like the Cinchtite 1 but also has the built-in
Soft Loop like the Cinchtite 4, 5, and 6
Tie-downs listed below.
Cinchtite 4, 5 & 6
The next product I took out and hooked up to
my RZR was a set of the Cinchtite 5 Tie-Downs.
They looked a bit different from any straps I
had used before.
The Cinchtite 5 Tie-Down Strap has a
spring-loaded snap hook that I really liked
because it cannot slip off the trailer or other
holder from the moment you attach it. That in
itself, made attaching it much easier and more
convenient.
The built-in soft loop, designed to prevent
scratches to your vehicle and your Cinchtite
Tie-Down, was a feature I had never used or seen
before. Once I figured out the best way to use
it, I decided right away that I loved it. The
Cinchtite 5 also has the strong 1” webbing that
I like so much on the Cinchtite 2 Tie-Downs.
The Cinchtite 4 has all the same features as
the Cinchtite 5 except that, like the Cinchtite
1, it has a cam-tensioning device instead of the
ratchet buckle.
The Cinchtite 6 comes with all the same
features as the Cinchtite 5, including the
heavy-duty ratchet buckle, the spring-loaded
snap hook and the built-in soft loop. However,
the Cinchtite 6 comes with 2” webbing instead of
1” making it even more heavy duty for the larger
recreational vehicles.
Note: All of these sets come with two
tie-downs per package.
Kwik Strap
The Kwik Straps work the same way as the soft
loop, protecting both your recreational vehicle
and your Cinchtite Tie-downs from scratches or
other damages due to any movement or vibration
during transport. The Kwik Strap is made with a
round sling material, which allows for a little
give to aid in this damage prevention. They work
with any type of tie-down you use, but are most
often used with Cinchtite 1 & 2. I used one with
one of the Cinchtite 2 Tie-Downs in an area
where it was hard to get the hook attached to
the trailer. It worked great.
The Kwik Straps come in 12” and 18” sets and
have a working weight limit of 1,000 lbs. These
also come with two straps in each package.
So far so good, I thought, but we will see what
happens during travel or how difficult they are
to undo at the trailhead.
Checking the Tie-Downs
I always stop and check my tie-downs at least
once during the trip, usually when I stop to
fuel up so I can retighten any that are loose.
However, that was not an issue with the new
Steadymate Tie-Downs. They were as secure when I
checked them at the gas station, as they were
when I left the house.
When I reached the Trailhead
Usually when I get the tie-downs tight enough
to hold the vehicle like these were, they are
next to impossible to release when I am ready to
undo them. However, that was not the case with
my new Cinchtight straps. When I got to the
trailhead, I released one side of the ratchet
buckle, gave it a little tug; and it loosened
right up. That was possibly the first time I
have smiled while hooking or unhooking any of my
off-road vehicles!
Picking the Right Size
The Steadymate straps do come in different
sizes, so be sure to pick the size that will
work best for you and your toys.
- The Cinchtite 1, 2 & 3 Tie-Downs are 5’
long and have a working weight limit of 835
lbs.
- The Cinchtite 4 also has a weight limit
of 835 lbs, but is 6’ long.
- The Cinchtite 5 is 6’ long and has a
working weight limit of 1000 lbs.
- The Cinchtite 6 is 6’ long, has 2” wide
webbing and a working weight limit of 1,670
lbs.
Overall
I was definitely impressed with the
Steadymate products I tried and would recommend
them to anyone who wants to take securing your
vehicles to the next level!
On the WebFor more information on Steadymate
and to order product visit
www.steadymate.com
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